Government shutdown delays fire grant requests

"All we can do is wait and hope (the government) opens soon so they can get back on track with reviews," said Fostoria Fire Chief Keith Loreno

ReviewTimes.com

FOSTORIA, Ohio — Due to the government shutdown, the Fostoria Fire Division will likely have to wait longer than expected to find out whether it receives a grant to fund eight of its staff members' positions.

Fostoria Fire Chief Keith Loreno said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has stopped reviewing applications for the 2013 SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) grant because of the shutdown within the federal government.

According to an email Loreno received from FEMA, grant winners for the 2013 fiscal year will not be announced during the shutdown, which began on Sept. 30. "Everything is basically frozen," Loreno said. "I usually get update emails from FEMA every day but I haven't received one since they shut down."

Full story: Shutdown delays fire grant request